Jeep Wagoneer
These vehicles hold a unique place in American automotive history for several reasons. First, the body style went essentially unchanged from 1962 to 1991, making Wagoneers the longest-production single-generation vehicle in the domestic marketplace. This feat is even more amazing when considering that several different automakers produced the Wagoneer over these years. Second, the Wagoneer was literally the first Sports Utility Vehicle. Jeep coined the term in 1974 to describe the Wagoneer’s combination of a station wagon-type design and its larger-than-average body.
Wagoneers had such a long run largely because they had essentially no competition, especially in the early years. Most domestic automakers sold similar vehicles, yet they did not even try to match the Wagoneer’s luxury interior. This interior included power steering, factory-installed air conditioner or radio, and automatic transmission. These features were unheard of in the other domestically-produced vehicles in this class. And, the UK-produced Land Rover did not make its American debut until the early 1980s.
1963 and 1964 Wagoneer
Kaiser produced the Wagoneer in its early years. Industrial designer Brooks Stevens envisioned a car-like vehicle with the heart of a truck. To make his vision a reality, engineers gave the Wagoneer a unique skirt which offered a low stance, as well as finely-tuned suspension. Overall, development took three years and cost about $20 million.
Like subsequent models, the first Wagoneers were popular personal and commercial vehicles. The personal Wagoneers came in both two and four-door configurations. For delivery and other such vehicles, the two-door could be modified with double barn doors replacing the liftgate and rollable back window. Both configurations were available with a number of options.
A 3.8l V6, which was an optional upgrade on older Jeep station wagons, was standard equipment on the Wagoneer. This motor was quite fuel-efficient for its day. To accommodate the more powerful engine, designers used independent front suspension as opposed to a rigid front axle. That improvement gave the Wagoneer a more car-like ride. Both 2WD and 4WD options were available, as were both 3-speed automatic and manual transmissions.
1964 updates included factory air conditioners to keep passengers cool, and a lower-compression motor to keep the engine cooler, especially at higher altitudes.
1965 and 1966 Wagoneers
In accordance with customer preferences and new government rules, 1965 Wagoneers had a safety package. Features included better brakes, padded dash, and seat belts both front and rear. Late in the year, a few Wagoneers received V8 engines, which was a very popular addition.
1966 also saw the introduction of the Super Wagoneer. It was marked by its distinctive full-width grille. The vehicle had a four-barrel V8 under the hood to improve performance. The interior featured some items that were not even optional on other SUVs, such as a tilt steering wheel, power steering and brakes, courtesy interior lights, and a push-button radio. Most people consider the Super Wagoneer to be the first luxury SUV.
1967-1971 Wagoneers
In 1967, Kaiser stopped production on the 2WD Wagoneers, because sales consistently lagged behind the 4WD versions. In 1968, the company made the same move with regard to the two-door Wagoneers. These vehicles had Buick engines under the hood. The 230hp V8 had less horsepower, but a lower rpm and more torque.
